What is currently the largest legislative district in the nation, at more than 50,000 square miles, will "skinny down" to just 35,000 square miles. It won't even be the largest Senate district in Texas, but it will be the third largest and still bigger than 11 states and 124 countries.

I view these changes with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is disappointing that my district will no longer include Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas; historic Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory, the arts community of Marfa and the famed Marfa Lights, Roy Orbison's hometown of Wink, the Sonora Caverns; and Bandera, the Cowboy Capitol of the world.

But with the addition of these new counties, I'll represent my boyhood home of Lytle, where I learned to fish and ride horses. I'll help oversee the development of the Eagle Ford Shale, with the economic promise it brings to the region, and proudly represent Pearsall, Carrizo Springs and Crystal City, the Spinach Capitol of the World.

District 19 will add a few new precincts in Bexar County, and keep 12 other counties — Brewster, Crockett, Edwards, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Real, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, and Val Verde — just where they are.

While the political boundaries may change, the really important things will remain the same — the faith, patriotism, self-determination and work ethic of the people who live in West and South Texas.

One rule of redistricting is that districts contain communities of "common interest." In terms of the ethics and virtues of the people, that requirement was certainly fulfilled in the creation of the new district.

But the common interests don't end there. Outside of San Antonio, the district is rural, dotted with medium-sized towns and smaller communities. Families make their livings through agriculture, oil and gas production, small businesses, and local school districts.

This means that the new District 19, while still vast in its territory, will remain largely compact in terms of the issues that are most important to its constituents — public education, health care, child protection, economic development and job creation, and water.

Those are the issues I'll be fighting for the most in the next session of the Legislature.

So, whether you are new to the district or a veteran member, we all share a bond in this new political family of 800,000 brothers and sisters. And I believe we are going to get along just fine, even without Valentine.

State Sen. Carlos Uresti represents Senate District 19, which includes a portion of the South Side. He can be reached at 932-2568 or email carlos.uresti@senate.state.tx.us.